Ian Bannen

Actor, Professional photographer

Scottish-born actor Ian Bannen began his career in Ireland in 1947 and first appeared on the London stage as Captain Rickman in "Prisoners of War" (1955). Closely identified in England with the plays of Eugene O'Neill ... Read more »

Scottish-born actor Ian Bannen began his career in Ireland in 1947 and first appeared on the London stage as Captain Rickman in "Prisoners of War" (1955). Closely identified in England with the plays of Eugene O'Neill, he portrayed Hickey in "The Iceman Cometh" (1957) and Jamie Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (1958), later reprising the role of Jamie for 1983 productions of "A Moon for the Misbegotten" in London and NYC. Bannen made his feature debut in "Battle Hell" (1956), acquitted himself well in "The Risk/Suspect" (1960) and earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination as the cynical plane crash survivor in Robert Aldrich's "Flight of the Phoenix" (1965). His suave, dark good looks were fully utilized as Natalie Wood's stuffy husband in the lightweight "Penelope" (1967) and allowed him to be cast against type as a child molester in Sidney Lumet's taut "The Offense" (1973). As he aged into character roles, Bannen found success in a variety of roles from a unscrupulous religious in the underrated "Lamb" (1985) to the cantankerous grandfather in John Boorman's autobiographical "Hope and Glory" (1987). In addition, he made an indelible impression as The Leper in Mel Gibson's "Braveheart" (1995). The Ealingesque comedy "Waking Ned Devine" (1998) also provided a fine showcase for David Kelly and him as two brothers who concoct an impersonation scam after discovering that their old friend Ned Devine has died clutching the winning ticket to the Irish Lottery.

Appeared in "Eye of the Needle", starring Donald Sutherland

Essayed the role of Adolph Hitler in the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production, "The Gathering Storm"

1973

Appeared as Slade in "The Mackintosh Man", starring Paul Newman

1970

Portrayed Amos in Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth", an NBC miniseries

1969

Acted the part of St. John Rivers in NBC-TV version of "Jane Eyre"

1967

Starred opposite Mia Farrow in TV remake of "Johnny Belinda" (ABC)

1965

Earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Robert Aldrich's "The Flight of the Phoenix"

1965

Won acclaim for his efforts in Sidney Lumet's "The Hill"

1964

Played one of five love-starved men vying for the attention of Carroll Baker in "Station Six-Sahara"

1963

Starred in first production outside of South Africa of Athol Fugard's "The Blood Knot"

1961

Played title role in "Hamlet", as well as Mercutio ("Romeo and Juliet") and Iago opposite Sir John Gielgud in a production of "Othello" (directed by Franco Zeffirelli), all for Memorial Theatre Company

1960

Portrayed McDuff in NBC-TV version of "Macbeth", which ultimately received a theatrical release

1958

Starred in "Wolf Pack" for British TV's "Armchair Theatre"

1956

First West End appearance, Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge", directed by Peter Brook

1956

Film acting debut in "Battle Hell"

1955

London stage debut, "Prisoners of War"

1951

Performed with the Memorial Theatre Company in Stratford-on-Avon (now the Royal Shakespeare Company)

1947

Stage debut, "Armlet of Jade" at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ireland

Served his mandatory 18 months with the British Army

Played Dr. Cameron in "Dr. Finlay" (a revival of the 1962-1971 BBC series "Dr Finlay's Casebook") for Scottish TV; Parts I and II aired on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre"